Gen Z Email Sign-Offs: What “Slay All Day” Reveals About Communication, Trust, and Leadership

ByKirryn Zerna InBusiness

Warm Regards, Best Regards, Yours Truly, Cheers…

These are all email sign-offs that might sound a bit old-fashioned. Old, not just in terms of age, but in their traditional ways. Because there’s a new generation in town, and they’re rewriting the rules of work email signatures.

Now you might see:

“Slay all day”
“Cold regards”
“Not a single regard”

And suddenly, the question isn’t just what sounds professional.

👉 It’s: What actually creates connection at work?

Now, speaking as one of the “experienced” folks, let me take a moment to ponder. What’s going on here?

The Rise of Gen Z Communication at Work

Like many trends, this one gained traction on social media.

(As is often the case these days, we stumbled upon this trend through TikTok.)

One notable example was a young lawyer, fittingly named @bodybytacobell, who became convinced that her boss wasn’t actually reading her emails. So, she started concluding her emails with witty and unusual sign-offs, just to see if they’d catch anyone’s attention.

And just like that, a trend was born. Gen Z employees across the board began to shake up their email game, ditching the formal sign-offs in favour of their own, often amusing, versions.

And what started as a joke became a signal:

👉 communication at work is changing

The result?

Others followed.

People noticed.

The Real Issue: Communication Is Evolving Faster Than Connection

At first glance, this might seem like a generational quirk.

But it points to something deeper.

In modern workplaces, we’re seeing:

more communication
more channels
more speed

But not necessarily:

more clarity
more trust
or stronger connection

And that’s where the tension sits.

The Leadership Challenge: Formality vs Authenticity

So who’s right? Why do we sometimes use overly formal language in our emails, using our “Yours sincerely,” when all we really mean is “Thanks.”

On the flipside, what happens when we throw out professionalism at work? Is it really OK to disregard professional ettiquette altogether? This aligns with a recent comment by Alex Mahon, chief executive of Channel 4, who suggested that young people are arriving in the workplace ill-equipped with the skills needed to communicate with colleagues; lacking the skills to debate or disagree.

Why This Matters for Teams and Performance

This isn’t just about email etiquette.

It’s about alignment.

When communication styles don’t match:

messages are misinterpreted
intent is unclear
trust erodes
and performance suffers

Because people don’t just respond to words.

👉 They respond to how those words feel.

Connection-Driven Leadership in Modern Workplaces

This is where Connection-Driven Leadership becomes critical.

Because today, leaders need to:

bridge generational communication styles
create clarity across different ways of working
build trust — even when communication feels fragmented

And that doesn’t happen by default.

It’s led.

What Leaders Can Do Now

You don’t need to adopt “slay all day” in your emails.

But you do need to rethink how communication works in your team.

Start here:

1. Set clear communication expectations

Align on tone, style, and clarity across your team.

2. Build awareness across generations

Different styles aren’t wrong — they’re signals.

Use them to understand, not judge.

3. Focus on clarity and intent

Make sure messages are understood — not just sent.

So, here’s a question for you: What funny generational gaps or disconnections have you encountered in your workplace? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Planning a Leadership or Team Event?

Kirryn Zerna delivers keynotes on Connection-Driven Lhttps://www.kirrynzerna.com/speaker/eadership — helping organisations build trust, strengthen teams, and create high-performing cultures.

👉 Check availability for your next event

communication, connection, disconnect